Portion of Beckwith Street in Smiths Falls reopening following revitalization
Posted Oct 26, 2022 02:21:35 PM.
The Beckwith Street Revitalization Project is almost complete and a portion of the roadway is set to reopen to traffic.
The Town of Smiths Falls has announced Beckwith Street will reopen between Russell Street and Elmsley Street North by the end of the day on Friday, Oct. 28, after being closed for seven months.
The town threw a 'Back On Beckwith Street Party' earlier this month to celebrate the soon to be completed construction, which was attended by thousands of community members, business owners and tourists.
“Line painting and pavement markings took place during the unseasonable warm weather on the weekend of October 22nd,” said Paul McMunn, director of public works and utilities for Smiths Falls. “There are some final touches being completed this week such as minor landscaping and general clean up of the site.”
McMunn said the intersection of Beckwith Street and Elmsley Street North will be commissioned later this week, the final operation before the official re-opening”
The Beckwith Street Revitalization Project began in 2019. The first phase saw the revitalization of the roadway from Chambers Street and Russell Street, before moving onto phase two between Russell Street and Elmsley Street North.
The project includes the replacement of underground infrastructure, like storm systems and watermains, as well as the installation of new concrete curbing and large side walks, parallel parking lanes, fully separate cycling tracks, landscaping, new furniture, a new pedestrian crosswalk, pedestrian and street lighting and new signal infrastructure that meets the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).
“The re-opening of Beckwith Street to traffic represents a great milestone for the community and businesses,'' said Karen Burns, chair of the Downtown Smiths Falls Business Association (DSFBA). “After years of construction, we are ready to welcome foot, cycling, and vehicular traffic to our downtown shops and restaurants””
